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School supply drive aims to help children in need

Kay Ireland, the director of distribution and community services at the Topeka Rescue Mission, is coordinating the effort to get kids at the mission school supplies and backpacks.

School supplies are bagged and ready for children to pick up from the Topeka Rescue Mission. Caroline Sweeney/Capital-Journal

School supplies are donated and ready for children to pick up from the Topeka Rescue Mission. Caroline Sweeney/Capital-Journal

The start of the school year is right around the corner, and that means it is time to start checking off items from the back-to-school lists.

But for many families in Topeka Unified School District 501, getting ready for the school year isn’t as easy as it seems. Because of that, several local agencies are collecting basic school supplies. And as the school year inches closer, the Topeka Rescue Mission has bags prepared to give to students in need.

A report card for 2012-2013 showed 77.13 percent of students fell within the federal poverty guidelines, according to the Kansas State Department of Education.

Topekans can get assistance from Topeka North Outreach’s “Operation Backpack,” through the rescue mission’s supply drive.

“Currently, we have between 55 and 60 kids at the mission,” said Barry Feaker, the executive director at the mission. “All of them need to have the necessary items to enter school.”

In order to receive a packet from the mission, families either needed to be staying there or fill out a request form. On Wednesday, children staying at the mission were able to pick up their supply packets and a backpack. The families who applied for supplies can pick them up Friday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and then again on Saturday from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m.

Last year, the mission served 565 kids, according to Kay Ireland, the director of distribution and community services. Ireland is coordinating the pickup efforts throughout the weekend.

Feaker estimated the mission will help 400 students this weekend.

“It is extremely important that these kids go to class with the right equipment,” he said.

Although the big push is at the beginning of the year, Feaker said they collect supplies throughout the year.

Communities in Schools of Mid-America is also a resource for families in need to school supplies.

The organization serves Highland Park, Topeka and Topeka West high schools, as well as Eisenhower Middle School, Shaner and Ross elementary schools and Scott Dual Language Magnet School.